Afghanistan war veteran Michael Akpata can testify to the power of his service memories.

“My children understand Remembrance Day,” said the Windsor Police Service officer who served in the war in Afghanistan in 2007, escorting convoys through the desert. “They understand what this country means and why we stand erect and proud when O Canada is played.”

Akpata said his children were only six and seven years old when they learned those lessons. He recalled that he had brought them with him to his interview for the Windsor Historical Society’s Veterans Memories Project. After their father’s memories of his service were being recounted the children remained to listen to the taping of testimonies from other veterans, the vast majority of them older men, who had served in the Second World War or the Korean War.

The Windsor police officer said the children began to understand that the stories of the older men, the medals and regimental badges they wore, the experiences they shared were similar to their father’s and crossed generational lines. Akpata said the children were being introduced to people who not only served “but helped carve” the Canada they were growing up in.

“They touched history,” he said.

Now the veterans and the historical society are hoping to touch other children with their living history. Dann Bouzide, president of the society, local veterans and project supporters met Thursday with representatives of the local school boards in a bid to get their video, A Glimpse into the Eyes of History, into more schools and classrooms, from beyond Windsor and Essex County to boards all over the country.

“The acceptance has been excellent at the local school boards,” said Bouzide. “Now we plan to get the word out, to open doors all across Canada.”

The project, which started a decade ago and involved the videotaping of interviews telling soldiers’ stories has grown to include 78 different testimonials covering participants in all conflicts that involved Canada. Bouzide said some of the interviews lasted between one and two hours. Many times the interviewers, all volunteers, had to draw out the stories from veterans who were initially reluctant to share their wartime memories.

“But when they see pictures of other veterans on the wall and see the video, they open up,” said Bouzide.

The effects on the Grade 10 and 11 history students who have heard the testimonials live has been outstanding, said Second World War veteran Bob Kelly, who spent 12 years in the service, landing in Holland at age 17 and marching to Germany with the R.C.R, First Parachute regiment.

“It’s absolutely great,” he said. “We went to a school where we had 300 students attend. At the end, when they played the Last Post, they all stood and gave us a standing ovation. It was great.”

Kelly added that he believes the testimonials are reaching a whole new generation and that they are showing veterans the respect they have earned.

That response from the students is common, said Laura Beltran, vice-principal of Brennan high school.

“It’s a live person telling their story and the students relate,” said Beltran, adding the presentation is so powerful you can hear a pin drop when the soldiers testify. “The kids stand up and applaud. These are our heroes that they’re meeting. You don’t get that experience by reading a text book.”

Scott Scantlebury, public relations officer with the Greater Essex County District School Board, said the material, the video, booklets and magazine, fit nicely with history curriculum and should be easily disseminated through the school system and board websites. The school board officials said they would be glad to help introduce the material to other systems throughout Ontario and Canada through the educational conferences they may attend.

“I’m certain this is something that most boards would be interested in as a resource,” Scantlebury said. “It’s a video that is not difficult to share and is easily tied to curriculum.”

For those seeking information on the project, contact dann@windsorhistoricalsociety.com.

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